Shane Beamer just wanted to get out in front it, so he told the gathered media Tuesday what happened before the questions started.

The South Carolina coach broke his foot out of frustration following his team’s loss to Florida on Saturday.

The Gamecocks, which led by 10 in the fourth quarter, fell to 2-4 on the season after the Gators rallied for the 41-39 win.

“I broke my foot on Saturday, so I’d rather just get it out there and say it. And not have y’all speculating and then after the game on Saturday at Missouri you ask,” Shane Beamer said. “I called coach (Ray) Tanner, told him, made sure he was OK with it and he died laughing when I told him. So I guess there’s not a lot of empathy from him. It was after the game, and certainly that was a gut-wrenching, emotional loss, and I was frustrated and kicked something that I shouldn’t have kicked.”

He didn’t think anything of his foot but realized something was wrong later in the day.

“Don’t think I’m going to have to have surgery, but there is a broken bone in my foot. It hurts like you know what,” Beamer said. “I’ve gotta show toughness and fight through it.”

He said kicking something was a reflection of his team or players.

“I thought I was OK, but the adrenaline of the game wore off, and before anybody starts the narrative like, ‘The head football coach is frustrated and lost his poise,’ and all that. No, I care,” Beamer said. “I care about these kids, and I was really upset on Saturday night because I didn’t do enough to help them get over the hump and win the football game.”

Graham Mertz threw for a career-best 423 yards and three touchdowns, the last a 21-yard strike to Pearsall with 47 seconds left, as the Gators rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat South Carolina 41-39 on Saturday.

The rally ruined a strong performance by South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler, who passed for 313 yards and four touchdowns. The Gamecocks (2-4, 1-3) have lost two straight and three of their last four.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.